Come March 15 and a chronic issue, which not only plagued 247-km-long Jammu-Srinagar national highway for many years but also resulted in deaths and injuries, would be a thing of the past.
The commuters would be able to bypass the Panthyal stretch in Ramban district, a point highly prone to shooting stones, as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is all set to complete the construction of 800-metre-long tunnel called T5.
The tunnel is a part of the highway realignment project, which would put an end to the ghost of shooting stones and disruption of traffic.
Ramban deputy commissioner (DC) Mussarat Islam said, “The stretch at Panthyal was the most problematic one on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway (NH44) because of the shooting stones, but the NHAI has promised to hand over the T5 tunnel to us by March 15. It would put an end to the problem of shooting stones and subsequent disruptions in traffic movement.”
The Jammu-Srinagar national highway is the only all-weather surface link that connects Kashmir valley with the outside world.
Islam said as a part of the realignment package between Ramban and Banihal, three tunnels ranging from 400 metres to 800 metres were to be constructed to bypass critical stretches on the highway. The DC said though the tunnel is not going to reduce the distance, it will completely bypass the problematic Panthyal stretch.
“Rains and snow trigger shooting stones, which become our biggest trouble. The last blockade for more than two days had happened at this stretch only,” he added.
Apart from T5 tunnel, the NHAI will also come up with two tubes of 16.6km length between Ramban and Digdol (up to Sher Bibi) and then connect it with a viaduct with Banihal expressway.
